Children's Aid gets a Spark

TORONTO — The Children’s Aid Foundation hosts the Spark Gala on May 6, a fundraising event to support disadvantaged children and youth.

Mark Daniels and Andrea Weissman-Daniels founded the Ignite the Spark Fund and created the inaugural Spark Gala last year, inspired by their own experience with their adopted daughter.

Proceeds from the event will give youth in child welfare opportunities to explore their interests and change their lives. Sports, arts and cultural programs are crucial to their personal growth and development, but are a rare experience for most.

This year’s theme, Rhythm & Soul, dramatizes the transformative power of music in the life of a child. More than 400 guests, including teenagers, will gather to celebrate at The Carlu in Toronto (444 Yonge St, 7th floor). They will hear from five luminaries who will pay tribute to people who first ignited their inner spark. They are legendary guitarist, songwriter, performer and producer Randy Bachman; figure-skating champion Patrick Chan; Fashion magazine’s editor-in-chief Bernadette Morra; actor and Top Chef Canada host Lisa Ray; acclaimed gospel, jazz and blues singer Jackie Richardson.

Hosted by Leslie Roberts and Anne Mroczkowski, co-anchors of the News Hour at 5:30 on Global Toronto, the event begins at 11:30 a.m., followed by an elegant brunch created by celebrity chef Mark McEwen. At 2 p.m. the tribute honouring Spark luminaries begins, highlighting their remarkable success stories through video, song, dance and fashion-runway segments. With musical direction by Joe Sealy, the production includes performances by Sistema Toronto and Sanskriti Arts, among others.

Tickets to the 2012 Spark Gala are $250. Tables and corporate packages are also available. For tickets or more information, call David Grieco at 416-923-0924, ext. 275, or visit www.ignitethespark.ca.